This Affordable Salad Spinner Is Why I'll Never Hand-Dry Greens Again

Tested by Taylor Murray

I'm a firm believer that the quickest way to ruin a gorgeous salad is to dress it while the leaves are still dripping wet. Washing greens is a non-negotiable, so a good salad spinner is a must-have. After testing a dozen leading models, the hands-down winner is the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner. This is the spinner that actually earned space in my own kitchen and gets used regularly.

The lightweight, roomy construction of this spinner allows for quick, bruise-free drying in a snap. Add to that a few extras like a quick-stop brake, dishwasher-safe parts, and a non-skid base that stays put, and you've got a tool that's equal parts workhorse and show pony.

With more than 45,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and my own "Best Overall" stamp from a head-to-head test, this spinner proves you don't need a high price tag to be a star. Still not sure if you need this in your life? Here's why it's a worthwhile buy.

How I Tested the OXO Salad Spinner

To find out what makes a great salad spinner, I tested it using two different kinds of produce.

Mixed Greens Test: I gave each spinner a rinse-and-spin trial with tender mixed greens. I weighed the greens after rinsing and again after spinning to determine how much moisture was wicked away by the spinner. I also recorded how long it took for the greens to look visibly dry.

Herbs Test: Next, I repeated the same test with cilantro to see if the spinner could replicate the results without bruising or tearing the delicate leaves.

Functionality Test: During both tests, I took note of how the spinner worked, what method of power it utilized, how hard it was to get momentum, and if it had any other special features.

After testing, I cleaned the spinner and looked for trick spots that harbored bits of lettuce or pools of water.

My Review of the OXO Salad Spinner Based on Testing

Performance: Two cups of spring mix went from soggy to dry in about 20 seconds during testing, leaving only 17 percent residual moisture. The pump action ramps the spinning up quickly without much effort and won't bruise your greens in the process. Even fragile cilantro came out unbruised, which is no easy feat.

Features and Appearance: At just over six quarts, the clear bowl is roomy enough for a giant harvest of greens, yet the whole unit only weighs about two and a half pounds. The push-button pump locks flat to make for more streamlined storage and a wide, non-skid base keeps things from spinning out of control. There's a simple button that functions as a brake, stopping the spinning in a second or two. The BPA-free plastic allows for easy viewing from the top and sides, and adds a clean, modern look to the spinner.

Care and Maintenance: Cleanup and care of this device is exceedingly simple. The basket that spins and holds your produce comes out so you can rinse it under the faucet and let it air dry. Likewise, the outer bowl is a smooth piece of plastic that's no more challenging to clean than any other bowl in your kitchen. The lid comes apart completely, just in case something tricky needs to be dislodged. During my testing, I did not need to open the lid at all for cleaning.

Price and Value: At $33, this spinner is on the lower end of most on the market, but performed as well or better than any other I tested. While the plastic could crack with rough use, the overall construction and performance are well worth the cost. If you eat salads more than twice a month, this is money well spent.

How the OXO Good Grips Spinner Compares to the OXO Stainless Steel Spinner

The stainless steel version of the OXO Good Grips Spinner is almost identical to the original, save for the outer bowl, which is made of steel instead of plastic. The stainless steel is much more durable, though slightly heavier. This swap also makes the product more expensive, by almost double.

Both spinners work the same way, with a push-button top that accelerates a spinning centrifuge that pulls water off the leaves and out of the basket that holds them. Unlike other kinds of salad spinners, the metal bowl is more aesthetically pleasing and could double as a serving bowl for a large green salad. If you garden or pick up farmers' market produce on the regular, go for the stainless steel. You'll be grateful in the long run when it outlasts the plastic version.

What Else Can a Salad Spinner Be Used For?

Beyond greens and herbs, a salad spinner can be used to dry all kinds of small foods, such as berries, cherry tomatoes or small potatoes. I've even spun canned beans and cooked pasta when the occasion called for it. In short, if it's small, wet and edible, your salad spinner can come in handy.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Taylor Murray is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University with a degree in Culinary Nutrition. She worked as a professional chef for over 10 years before moving into recipe and product testing and development. She has tested several hundred products for Food Network and other brands over the last six years, covering everything from carbon steel pans to food dehydrators.

Why You Should Trust Food Network Shopping Experts

Food Network Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are tested in real home kitchens that reflect real-world use cases. Our testers follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing the best products, our testers evaluate all of the testing data and take into consideration many factors, including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. The products covered on FoodNetwork.com are chosen completely independently by our editors without any outside influence. Our editors do not accept products in exchange for a positive review or promised coverage.